Summer Co-ed Softball at Westmoreland Wed/Thur

At Underdog, we get the occasional fan out there... the person who is cheering on loved ones while enjoying beautiful Portland summer evenings. Never have we had a fan as sharply dressed as young Aiden was on Wednesday night. In full dress shirt and tie, Aiden came out to root on his team, For Hits and Giggles. Not only was he the best-dressed fan in the history of Underdog Sports Leagues, but he also retrieved several foul balls for the umpire, which was much appreciated by this reporter. Way to go Aiden! You're this Week 1's Player of the Week!

It was a scorcher of a day out at Westmoreland; the infield was nice and dusty as Game #1 commenced on Field #2. Both teams showed up to compete, but the Game Changers would put together a couple large innings to pull away late in the game. Colleen was an excellent representation of not only her team but Underdog Sports as well, showing up with a great attitude and a deadly pink "LA" hat with matching bandana combo. When she stepped into the box she meant business, and by business I mean laughing it up with her teammates and enjoying this beautiful we get to play. She will be forever known as The Lady In Pink. Shout out to Colleen C. for her Player of The Week Honors!

For my first match up out at Westmoreland, I had the Game Changers squaring off against the Tillamook Tillamoos. The Game Changers came out hot with a couple large innings, while the Tillamoos were a little slow to get the momentum in their favor. This is uncharacteristic of the Tillamoos, the last game of theirs umpired they were knocking the ball all around the yard from the get go. The Tillamoos would finally caught a little mojo towards the end of the game, but unfortunately not enough to defeat the Game Changers. At the end of the game I approached to Game Changers and asked for a Player of The Game and every team member told me to give it to the Tillamoos. After encouraging the opposing team when they weren't at their best and to selflessly give the player of the game to a player on the losing side, my Player of The Week honor goes to the entire Game Changers team. This group truly embodies what Underdog is about and is an exceptional model of how a recreational team should operate and treat the game of softball.

Both sides scoring early and often, Bottom of The Fifth scored early and big, putting up 10 in the bottom of the second to take the lead 11-8. The top of the third brought a massive inning for Just Send It putting up seven runs to reclaim the lead 15-11. As these long innings continued, it seemed as though 5 innings would be the maximum number of innings due to time; I guess you can say it was destined to happen with Bottom of The Fifth being the home team. As the bottom of the fitfth began, the score was 18-14 after Just Send It put up two to extend its lead going into the final inning; it seemed only fitting that Bottom of The Fifth came out reckless abandon in the part of the game they named themselves after, getting the first two runners on early followed up by two quick outs. With two away, runners at second and third, Kayla Cross stepped up to the plate. Cross had been attack mode all night at the dish and on the first pitch rolls one up the middle to bring in both runs for the win. It was an exciting night for all three games, but this final game was when heck of a way to wrap up the Wednesday night playoff match ups at Westmoreland; one for the ages if you ask me.

Big Pink brought home another championship Wednesday night. It was due in no small part to Seth Buchwalter. Always one of the most talented players on the diamond, Seth contributes in all phases of the game with great hitting, great speed, great pitching, and great fielding. But what makes him Player of the Week is a fifth phase: sportsmanship. Seth is a great leader on his own team, keeping his team focused but in a pleasant manner that keep everybody loose. He's also super cool to the opposing team which just makes everything fun for everybody. Thanks for being a good sport, Seth. You're Playoff Week's Player of the Week.